Plans to protect care home, hospital and hospice visiting have been published following a consultation.

The changes to the law mean visits will be a fundamental standard of care on a par with having access to food and drink and properly qualified staff.

Minister for care, Helen Whately, said: “Spending time with loved ones makes all the difference to the wellbeing of people in care homes and hospices. Of course, keeping people safe from infections is important, but this is about striking the right balance.

“I know how painful it can be when you’re stopped from seeing someone who means everything to you, especially when you don’t know how much time they have left. It’s something I don’t want anyone to have to go through again. That’s why we’re changing the law to recognise just how much visiting matters.”

The CQC is being given a mandate to ensure providers are meeting their visiting obligations.

Hilda Hayo, chief executive of Dementia UK and Chief Admiral Nurse, said: “During the pandemic, limits to visiting rights impacted people living with dementia who weren’t able to see their loved ones. We hope that the introduction of legislation designed to protect visiting rights and maintain meaningful contact will limit the harm that isolation can cause.

“As these proposals are put in place, we hope that the new rights are accompanied by safe processes and protocols around visits in all health and social care settings, as well as clear communication with families and carers.”

Helen Wildbore, director of Care Rights UK, said: “We welcome the care minister’s commitment to recognising the importance of visiting. We raised concerns with the minister about the approach outlined in their consultation, so we look forward to seeing the detail, including how far this protects access to a care supporter – someone we depend upon as our eyes, ears and voice when needed, who is much more than a visitor, but is essential to wellbeing.”